Climate Threat Global Challenges

Guterres: We Don't Want the Amazon to Become a Savanna

Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is urging world leaders to change course. This is to avoid passing a series of so-called tipping points, where ecosystems such as the Amazon and coral reefs collapse.

– We don't want to see the Amazon turn into a savanna, but it is a real risk if we don't drastically reduce emissions, says Guterres.

Guterres says it is "inevitable" that the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree target will be missed, but that it could be temporary if the world changes direction quickly.

COP30 takes place between November 10 and 21 in Brazil. 

Climate plans for 2035 far from what is needed

The world's overall climate policy is far behind what is needed to slow down warming. This is shown by a new UN report according to Politico.

According to the report, the world’s current climate plans for 2035 would only reduce emissions by 6 percent compared to what countries had previously promised to achieve by 2030, which is hardly any further reduction despite five extra years. To have a reasonable chance of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees, a global reduction of 60 percent is required.

However, several factors complicate the calculations. Only 64 of 195 countries have so far submitted updated climate plans, which makes the report’s calculations uncertain. The situation is also complicated by the fact that US President Donald Trump has abandoned Joe Biden’s previous climate goals.